Mt Barnabe, Samuel P Taylor State Park CA

• 4-star hike
• 5 mile loop
• Moderate | Gain 1,300 feet
• San Geronimo, CA | San Francisco Region
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The image shows a view from inside a lookout tower, overlooking a vast landscape of rolling hills and valleys. The scene is framed by the windows of the tower, and there is a telescope mounted on a stand in the foreground. The landscape outside is a mix of dry, golden hills and patches of green forest. On the window, there is handwritten text and arrows pointing to specific directions in the landscape. The text reads: 'Most frequent occurrence of fire' with an arrow pointing to the left. 'NW 315' with an arrow pointing to the right. '320°' with an arrow pointing to the right. This setup offers an interesting perspective of monitoring the landscape and tracking directions from the vantage point of the lookout tower.

Southerly views from inside the active fire tower atop Mount Barnabe.

The Marin headlands across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco offer tons of sightseeing potential, but doesn't everyone know it. Areas like Muir Woods and Stinson Beach are choked with traffic every fair weather weekend. Choose to drive an extra few miles, leaving the melee behind you and you'll be rewarded with empty roads and quiet trails.

We recommend the Mount Barnabe hike, which rewards with views of Tomales Bay, Mount Tamalpais and the surrounding headlands. To reach the trailhead, exit the 101 and drive 15 miles North along Sir Francis Drake Boulevard to a parking area located on the left, just past Samuel P Taylor State Park.

Trail Options Expand KML · Google Earth ·

⬤ 4★ Mt Barnabe Loop 4.9 mi loop, moderate, gain 1,300 ft
AllTrails · GPX File · Directions GPX?

Once you've kitted up, cross the road and enter the trail marked 'Devils Gulch Horse Camp'. Veer to the right and follow the stream to a bridge, walk across the bridge and then head left into dense forest. The first three miles of this five mile route will take you on a gradual rise up the mountain and through the forest, suddenly breaking out into sunlight, surrounded by grassland and turkey vultures.

When you head up to the summit of the mountain be sure to check out the fire tower. Manned during fire season, the fire-watchers sometimes welcome visitors into the tower which affords some even greater views, and some local insights. The return trip is a relatively fast one, directly down the fire road and back to the trailhead.

The image is a side-by-side comparison of two different hiking trails. The left side shows a trail in a dense, green forest with tall trees and lush vegetation. The path is narrow and dirt-covered, winding through the forest. The right side shows a hiker walking on a wider, gravel path in a more open and dry landscape. The vegetation is sparser, with some bushes and trees, and the sky is clear and blue.

Shaded trails from the trailhead, leading to exposed grassland above.

The image shows a panoramic view of a hilly landscape under a bright blue sky with scattered clouds. The foreground features a dry, grassy hill with a path leading up to a structure that appears to be a lookout or communication tower, surrounded by some trees and shrubs. The background reveals a vast expanse of rolling hills and valleys, with a mix of green and brown vegetation, indicating a semi-arid environment.

Mount Barnabe's summit and fire tower. Tomales Bay in the distance.

Tangents:
• Official: CA State Parks
• AllTrails Public: Mt Barnabe
• Facebook Group: Comment, Follow Us

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